Can I sue a city, state, or government agency for my injuries?

Yes, but with important procedural differences from suing a private party. Government entities are protected by sovereign immunity — a legal doctrine that historically shielded governments from lawsuit. Most states have waived sovereign immunity by statute for personal injury claims arising from government negligence, but these statutes impose strict conditions. The most critical difference is the notice of claim requirement: before filing a lawsuit against most government entities, you must file a formal notice of claim within a very short window — typically 60 to 180 days from the date of injury. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim regardless of how strong the underlying case is. Government claims arise in situations such as dangerous road conditions maintained by a city or state, accidents involving government vehicles, injuries on government property, and failures of public utilities or transit systems. Recoverable damages may be capped under applicable sovereign immunity statutes, and some types of government conduct are immune from suit entirely.